Image processing apparatus and image processing method that increase a width of a line constituting a white character in image data in a printing color saving mode

ABSTRACT

An image processing apparatus includes an input unit that inputs image data. A receiving unit receives an instruction on a mode for saving color material to be consumed by printing the image data. A processing unit performs processing for increasing a width of a line constituting a white character included in image data in a case when the receiving unit receives the instruction on the mode for saving a color material to be consumed by printing.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2014-046755, filed Mar. 10, 2014, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and animage processing method that execute color material saving processingand perform printing.

Description of the Related Art

A processing mode for suppressing the amount of color materialconsumption, a so-called toner saving processing, of an image formingapparatus is widely known as a function for reducing the density at thetime of printing, so as to save the printing cost. Furthermore, inrecent years, toner saving processing in which, not only is a densityreduced, but also, technologies such as reduction or edge extraction areused is in practical use, and a method is also provided in which a usercan selectively execute processing. For example, Japanese PatentLaid-Open No. 2000-326594 discloses that when a toner saving mode is on,a user can select processing for uniformly reducing the width of animage or processing for outputting only edges of an image. Furthermore,image thinning processing or image reduction processing can also beselected.

However, the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.2000-326594 does not necessarily serve as a means for suppressing theamount of color material consumption with respect to a white characteron a colored background, the white character being blank or filled witha color that is lighter than the background. When, for example, themethod disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-326594 is used toreduce the width of the white character, the white area is reduced andthe colored area is increased, rather increasing the amount of colormaterial consumption.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an image processing apparatus and animage processing method that realize color material saving processingwith respect to a character portion and avoids width-reducing processingwith respect to a white character, the width-reducing processingadversely affecting the white character.

The present invention, in its first aspect, provides an image processingapparatus comprising a processing unit that performs processing forincreasing a width of a line constituting a white character included inimage data in a case when a mode for saving a color material to beconsumed by printing is instructed, and an outputting unit that outputsthe image data processed by the processing unit for printing.

The present invention, in its second aspect, provides an imageprocessing apparatus comprising a processing unit that performs, in acase when a mode for saving a color material to be consumed by printingis instructed, processing for reducing a width of a line constituting acharacter having a density that is equal to or higher than apredetermined density, or a width of a line having a density that isequal to or higher than a predetermined density, the character and theline being included in image data, and for not performing processing forreducing a width of a line constituting a white character, or a width ofa white line, the white character and the white line being included inimage data, and an outputting unit that outputs the image data processedby the processing unit for printing.

The present invention, in its third aspect, provides an image processingapparatus comprising a selecting unit that selects, in a case when amode for saving a color material to be consumed by printing isinstructed, whether to perform processing for increasing a width of aline constituting a white character or a width of a white line, thewhite character and the white line being included in image data, or toperform processing for reducing a density of a background of the whitecharacter or the density of a background of the white line, the whitecharacter and the white line being included in image data, and aprocessing unit for performing, on the image data, the processingselected by the selecting unit.

The present invention, in its fourth aspect, provides an imageprocessing apparatus comprising a comparing unit that compares abrightness of a character included in image data with a brightness of abackground of the character, in a case when a mode for saving a colormaterial to be consumed by printing is instructed, and a processing unitthat performs, in a case when the brightness of the character is higherthan the brightness of the background as a result of the comparison bythe comparing unit, processing for increasing a width of a lineconstituting the character.

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent anincrease in the amount of color material consumption by realizing colormaterial saving processing with respect to a character portion andavoiding width-reducing processing with respect to a white character,the width-reducing processing adversely affecting the white character.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processingapparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a renderingsection.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure according toEmbodiment 1.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure according toEmbodiment 2.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a UI screen on which processing with respectto white characters is set.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure according toEmbodiment 3.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a chart for adjustment of contrast tolerance.

FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C show examples of toner saving processing withrespect to a white character.

FIGS. 10A and 10B show examples of a UI screen on which contrasttolerance is adjusted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1

Hereafter, embodiments for implementing the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a systemconfiguration that is suitable for being applied to the presentembodiment. An image processing apparatus 100 that executes imageprocessing on input image data and outputting the processed image data,a host computer 200 that instructs printing and performs imageprocessing using an application, a mobile terminal 300, and a server400, are connected to each other via a network line 500. The imageprocessing apparatus 100 is an image forming apparatus that hasfunctions of processing image data in accordance with an instructionfrom the host computer 200, the mobile terminal 300, or the server 400,via the network line 500, and of printing out the processed image data.The image processing apparatus 100 is, for example, a printer.Furthermore, the image processing apparatus 100, if having the functionsas a printer, may also have functions of processing image data generatedby reading an original document using an image reading apparatus (notshown), and transmitting the processed image data to the host computer200, the mobile terminal 300, or the server 400. The image processingapparatus 100 may also have a copy function of processing image datagenerated by reading an original document and printing out the processedimage data. The present embodiment will be described, assuming that theimage processing apparatus 100 performs printing in accordance with aninstruction from the host computer 200, the mobile terminal 300, or theserver 400. However, the present invention is not limited to this, andis also applicable to a case when the copy function is working or to acase when an original document read by an image reading apparatus (notshown) is transmitted to another image processing apparatus.

Image Processing Apparatus

FIG. 2 shows an internal configuration of the image processing apparatus100. An input unit 110 receives various types of data transmitted froman external apparatus and inputs image data generated by an imagereading apparatus (not shown) reading an original document. A systemcontrol unit 120 functions as a controller that performs overall controlof the image processing apparatus 100. The image data that was input bythe input unit 110 and data that is needed for processing instructed bythe system control unit 120, or an operation unit 150, are communicatedvia a bus 180. A storage unit 130 stores the image data and informationassociated therewith, and includes a system work memory, and the like,in which the system control unit 120 is operated. An image processingunit 140 performs, on the image data, correction, processing, editing,and conversion processing for outputting the image data. The operationunit 150 is a device whose operation screen, operation button, and thelike (that are not shown) are used for a user to perform various typesof operations, and transmits information instructed in the operation tothe system control unit 120. A rendering unit 160 interprets input datain a page-description language format (hereafter, referred to as PDLdata) and re-configures image data that is to be output. (Note that thedetail of the rendering unit 160 will be described later with referenceto FIG. 3.) A printing unit 170 forms the image data converted forprinting as an image on a sheet, and outputs the formed image data.Examples of this printing method include an electrophotographic methodand an ink-jet method, and any method is applicable to the presentembodiment. However, the present invention is more effective for arecording method in which the problem mentioned in the problem-relatedsection occurs, that is, a method such as the electrophotographicmethod, the ink-jet method, and the like, that consumes the amount of arecording material that corresponds to the recording amount.

FIG. 3 shows an internal configuration of the rendering unit 160. Aninput unit 161 receives the PDL data that was input into the imageprocessing apparatus 100. The image data input from the input unit 161is communicated via a bus 167. A color conversion processing unit 162converts the image data in the PDL data into a predetermined colorspace. An object analysis unit 163 acquires attribute informationindicating the type of each object of the PDL data, that is, whether theobject is text, an image, graphics, or the like, for example.Furthermore, the area of a target object, a signal value, positioninformation, and the like, are analyzed to generate characteristicinformation that is to be needed in later processing as the need arises.An object conversion unit 164 performs image conversion processing oneach object based on the analysis result obtained by the object analysisunit 163. Examples of this conversion processing include magnificationchanging processing for scaling a target object, density conversionprocessing for adjusting an output density, and the like. The conversionprocessing is not limited to these, and complicated processing, such asprocessing for varying output densities between an edge region and theremaining region, other than the edge region, may also be applied inorder to suppress the amount of color material (or at least one coloragent) consumption. A rendering processing unit 165 converts the imagedata into an output format. An output unit 166 outputs the image dataconverted into an output format.

Width-Reducing Processing

The following will describe the basic processing flow of the presentembodiment. The present invention relates to a method for effectivelyperforming toner saving processing on a character part of an inputimage. Note that a recording material is not necessarily a toner,depending on the type of a print engine, but, in the present embodiment,a description will be given assuming that the printing unit 170 is anelectrophotographic unit.

FIG. 4 is a flow showing the processing flow of the present embodiment,and the processing flow will be described in detail below. A controlprogram for realizing the processing procedure, and the like, of FIG. 4is stored in the storage unit 130, and is loaded on a work memory andexecuted by the system control unit 120 and the rendering unit 160. Thesystem control unit 120 includes or serves as a CPU or a processor, andthe control program is executed by that CPU or processor. Cooperation ofthe system control unit 120 and the rendering unit 160 can be realized,for example, by using a shared memory or a DMA, or by the rendering unit160 serving as a processor, or the like. Here, the rendering unit 160will be described taking PDL data in which an image is constituted bycyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), instead of input imagedata, as an example.

When print data (data to be printed) described in, for example, thepage-description language (PDL) is input into the image processingapparatus 100, the system control unit 120 instructs the renderingprocessing unit 160 to start rendering processing with respect to anobject serving as a target (an object to be subjected to the renderingprocessing is referred to as a target object) included in the printdata. The procedure of FIG. 4 starts therewith.

In step S401, the object analysis unit 163 determines whether or not theattribute of the target object is text. If the attribute of the targetobject is text, it is further determined in step S402 whether or not theobject is a white character. The determination whether or not the objectis a white character is made based on whether or not each color of CMYK,with which the character is filled, has a value that is equal to or lessthan a threshold Th. For example, if Th=0 is set, it can be determinedwhether or not the object is a white character. Furthermore, if Th=10 isset, a character filled with a certain level of a light color can bedealt with as a white character. Here, a description will be givenassuming that the characters in both the cases are white characters. Ifit is determined that the text object is a white character, in whicheach color of the text object has a value that is equal to or less thanthe threshold, no processing will be performed. On the other hand, if itis determined that this text object is not a white character, therendering unit 160 notifies the system control unit 120 of thisdetermination result, and the system control unit 120 determines, instep S403, thin-line reproducibility in the image processing apparatus100. Thin-line reproducibility refers to the extent of how thin a linecan be printed without being blurred. The thin-line reproducibility isdetermined by the system control unit 120, letting the printing unit 170output a thin-line image that is stored in advance in the storage unit130, for example. When a thin-line image is output, a density value ofthe thin-line is read by a post output sensor (not shown), or the like,and the system control unit 120 stores the read density value in thestorage unit 130. The system control unit 120 compares the read densityvalue with a normal time density value stored in advance in the storageunit 130, and if the read density value is lower than the normal timedensity value by a predetermined value or more, it is determined thatthe thin-line reproducibility deteriorates, and the procedure advancesto step S404. However, the thin-line reproducibility test does not needto be performed by outputting a thin-line image each time of printing,rather, regularly at a timing at which a predetermined number of sheetsare output. The latest density value of the thin-line or the latestdetermination result is stored, and this latest density value ordetermination result is referenced in step S403. If there is no postoutput sensor, an image reading apparatus (not shown) can be used toread a thin-line image, and a determination can be made in a similarfashion. The determination may be made using an appropriate methodaccording to the configuration of the apparatus. If it is determined instep S403 that the thin-line reproducibility is good, the objectconversion unit 164 executes, in step S405, text object width-reducingprocessing. The text object width-reducing processing refers toprocessing for reducing the line width of a rendered character and, forexample, a parameter of the line width of text is changed to the valuecorresponding to the extent that the line width is reduced. The extentof the width reduction, in the case when the thin-line reproducibilityis good, is predetermined in the present embodiment. If it is determinedin step S403 that the thin-line reproducibility is not good, the objectconversion unit 164 performs, in step S404, adjustment for attenuatingthe level of width reduction, and then executes, in step S405, the textobject width-reducing processing. For example, in step S404, a parameterof the line width that is applied to width-reducing processing, when thethin-line reproducibility is good, is changed, such that the extent ofwidth reduction is less. This extent to which the parameter is to bechanged can also be set in advance. Note that an object whose attributeis a line can also be considered as in the case of a white character aslong as the object is rendered in a white line. Although the descriptionhas been given mainly with reference to a text object, theabove-described processing is effective for a line object as well.

Note that it is also possible that it is determined, in step S402,whether or not a character or line included in image data has a densitythat is equal to or higher than a predetermined density, and if thecharacter or the line has a density that is equal to or higher than apredetermined density, the character or the line is subjected to theprocessing in step S405, instead of the processing in steps S403 andS404. Note that, in step S402, instead of processing for comparing eachcolor value of C, M, Y, K with the threshold, processing for comparingthe brightness of the character with the brightness of a background ofthe character may be performed, and if the brightness of the characteris higher than the brightness of the background of the character, theprocedure may advance to step S501.

With the foregoing procedures, it is possible to avoid width-reducingprocessing on a white character, and to prevent an increase in theamount of color material consumption even if a white character isincluded. Furthermore, when the image processing apparatus 100 includesan electrophotographic engine, it is possible to perform toner savingprocessing, in which the image quality is maintained, by adjusting thelevel of the width reduction according to the change in state of theimage processing apparatus 100 due to deterioration, or the like, of aphotoreceptor drum, for example. Accordingly, when the determination ofthin-line reproducibility is difficult, such as, for example, when theprinting unit is of an ink-jet type or when the printing unit is asingle-function printer even if it is of an electrophotographic type, ifit is determined in step S402 that the object is not white, theprocedure may be branched to step S405.

The above-described processing is performed on all objects in the PDLdata that was input into the rendering unit 160, and the image data thatwas converted by the rendering processing unit 165 into a bitmap dataformat is transmitted from the output unit 166 to the image processingunit 140. The system control unit 120 lets the image processing unit 140perform, on the received image data, color conversion processing, andgamma conversion processing and image forming processing, taking intoconsideration gradation characteristics of the image processingapparatus 100, and lets the printing unit 170 print the image datasubjected to the processing for suppressing the amount of color materialconsumption.

As described above, width-reducing processing is not performed if a textobject or a line object in the PDL data is a white character, whereaswidth-reducing processing is performed if a text object or a line objectin the PDL data is not a white character. As a result, even if an imageincludes a white character, it is possible to obtain a printout in whichthe amount of color material consumption is suppressed.

Embodiment 2

The following will describe only the differences from the foregoingEmbodiment 1. The present embodiment differs from Embodiment 1, anddescribes a method of switching whether or not processing for increasingthe width of a white character is performed, the processing beingadvantageous as toner saving processing. Note that the same referencenumerals are given to the contents common to those of Embodiment 1, anddescriptions thereof are omitted.

FIG. 5 is a flow showing a flow of width-reducing processing of thepresent embodiment. FIG. 5 corresponds to FIG. 4 of Embodiment 1. If itis determined in step S402 that the target object is a white character,it is determined in step S501 whether or not the processing is performedon the white character. A determination method will be described indetail later. Examples of toner saving processing with respect to awhite character include a method of increasing the width of thecharacter so as to increase the white area and to reduce the coloredarea. If it is determined in step S501 that the processing is performedon the white character, the object conversion unit 164 executes, in stepS502, the processing for increasing the width of the target object. Ifit is determined, in step S501, that the processing is not to beperformed on the white character, the processing is not performed. Thetoner saving processing with respect to a white character is not limitedto the width-increasing processing, and any processing may be used aslong as it is processing for effectively suppressing the amount of colormaterial consumption.

FIG. 6 shows an example of an operation screen (user interface) that isdisplayed on the operation unit 150 for switching processing withrespect to a white character. A setting screen 601 for settingprocessing with respect to a white character includes buttons that auser uses to set whether or not processing is to be performed on a whitecharacter. If an ON button 602 is selected, it is determined in stepS501 that the processing is to be performed on the white character. Ifan OFF button 603 is selected, it is determined in step S501 that theprocessing is not to be performed on the white character. A cancelbutton 604 is used to cancel the setting change to return to anarbitrary screen, and an OK button 605 is used to return to an arbitraryscreen when setting is completed. Note that if there is a plurality oftypes of processing with respect to a white character, the settingscreen may also be configured to include, in addition to the OFF button603, a plurality of selection buttons for the respective types ofprocessing, and lets a user select processing. The screen of FIG. 6 maybe displayed on the operation unit 150 in step S501 of FIG. 5, and mayreceive an input from an operator to perform a determination in stepS501 based on the input. Alternatively, setting, using the screen ofFIG. 6, is performed separately and information on the input button isstored in advance, and a determination in step S501 may be performedwith reference to the stored information.

Note that, in step S402, instead of processing for comparing each colorvalue of C, M, Y, and K with Th, processing for comparing the brightnessof the character with the brightness of the background of the charactermay be performed, and if the brightness of the character is higher thanthe brightness of the background of the character, the procedure mayadvance to step S501.

As described above, by enabling toner saving processing to beimplemented to a white character as well, it is possible to obtain aneffect of suppressing the amount of color material consumption moreadvantageously.

Embodiment 3

The following will describe only the differences from the foregoingEmbodiment 2. The present embodiment differs from Embodiment 2, anddescribes a method of determining an effective one among a plurality ofmethods as toner saving processing with respect to a white character,and applying the method to the white character. Note that descriptionsof the contents common to those of the foregoing embodiments areomitted.

FIG. 7 is a flow showing a processing flow of the present embodiment. Ifit is determined in step S402 that a target object is a white character,the object conversion unit executes, in step S701, width-increasingprocessing and generates a width-increased image 705. At the same time,the object conversion unit executes, in step S702, contrast-reducingprocessing and generates a contrast-reduced image 707. Steps S701 andS702 are applied to the same input print data, and processing resultsare obtained independently. Specific examples of the width-increasedimage 705 and the contrast-reduced image 707 are described withreference to FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C. An image 901 of FIG. 9A is an inputimage, and “A” is rendered as a white character on the black background.If width-increasing processing is performed on the input image 901, awidth-increased image 902 is generated (FIG. 9B). The width-increasedimage 902 has the white area larger than that of the input image 901,and the black region of the background is smaller than that of the inputimage 901, resulting in a reduction in the amount of color materialconsumption. The width-increased image 902 is the same as the resultantof the width-increasing processing (step S502) of Embodiment 2.

On the other hand, if the contrast-reducing processing is performed onthe input image 901, a contrast-reduced image 903 (FIG. 9C) isgenerated. Since the contrast-reduced image 903 has the light black areaof the background, the amount of color material consumption is reducedrelative to that of the input image 901. In the contrast-reducingprocessing in step S702, the contrast-reducing processing in auser-acceptable range is executed based on a contrast tolerance 706. Thecontrast-reducing processing is processing for reducing, for example,the density of a background. The extent of the reduction is determinedaccording to the contrast tolerance 706. The contrast tolerance 706 willbe described later.

In step S703, the width-increased image 902 and the contrast-reducedimage 903 are converted into a bitmap data format in the renderingprocessing unit 165, and the image data is transmitted from the outputunit 166 to the storage unit 130. The system control unit 120 comparesthe amounts of color material consumption between the width-increasedimage 705 (hereafter, referred to as a width-increased bitmap image) andthe contrast-reduced image 707 (hereafter, referred to as acontrast-reduced bitmap image) that are stored in the storage unit 130in a bitmap data format. The amount of a color material that is to beconsumed for each image can be calculated by summing up the CMYK signalvalues. For example, the sum totals of CMYK signal values between thewidth-increased bitmap image and the contrast-reduced bitmap image arecompared, and the image having the lesser sum total can be determined ashaving a higher effect of suppressing the amount of color materialconsumption, since it is to be printed with a lesser amount of colormaterial. Alternatively, a more exact comparison can be made by applyinggamma conversion processing for each color of CMYK in the imageprocessing unit 140, taking into consideration gradation characteristicsof the image processing apparatus 100, and calculating and comparing sumtotals of CMYK signal values. If it is determined that the bitmap imageon which the width-increasing processing is performed has a lesseramount of a color material that is to be consumed, the system controlunit 120 reads, in step S704, the bitmap image on which thewidth-increasing processing is performed from the storage unit 130, theimage processing unit 140 processes the read bitmap image, and then, theprinting unit 170 prints the image data. If it is determined that thebitmap image on which the contrast-reducing processing is performed hasa lesser amount of a color material that is to be consumed, the data ofthe bitmap image on which the contrast-reducing processing is performedis printed in a similar manner. Although, here, an image to be output isautomatically determined based on the comparison result of the amountsof a color material to be consumed, the method of selecting which imageis to be output is not limited to this. For example, it is also possiblethat an effect of suppressing the amount of a color material that is tobe consumed is presented to a user, or an image that has been subjectedto toner saving processing is previewed, for example, and the user maygive an instruction using the operation unit 150. Furthermore, the tonersaving processing is not limited to the above-described method, as longas it is effective for a white character.

The contrast tolerance 706 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8,10A, and 10B. An adjustment chart 800 is an example of an adjustmentchart that a user uses to determine the acceptable extent of contrast.In the adjustment chart 800, six levels of images are rendered, in whichlevels of contrast between the white characters and the backgrounds arevaried. For example, the signal values of the background are varied froman image 801 to an image 806 in the order of 255, 200, 150, 100, 50, and30, where the image 801 is the image having the highest contrast. Theimage data of this adjustment chart 800 is generated in advance. FIG.10A is an example of a screen for generating the adjustment chart 800.An adjustment screen 1000 is displayed on the operation unit 150 inaccordance with a predetermined operation, and when a printing button1001 is pressed down, the image data of the adjustment chart 800 that isstored in advance in the storage unit 130 of the image processingapparatus 100 is printed. When a cancel button 1002 is pressed down, theprocedure ends without outputting the adjustment chart 800. When theadjustment chart 800 is printed, an adjustment screen 1003 shown in FIG.10B is then displayed on the operation unit 150. Number buttons 1004that correspond to the images 801 to 806 are provided on the adjustmentscreen 1003. Each number button is exclusively selectable. A userselects one of the number buttons 1004 that corresponds to the image inthe acceptable range from among the output adjustment chart 800, usingthe operation unit 150. When an OK button 1006 is pressed down, thecontrast tolerance that corresponds to the selected number button 1004is stored in the storage unit 130. When a cancel button 1005 is presseddown, the procedure ends without storing the adjustment result. Thecontrast tolerance is indicated by, for example, a difference in densitybetween a white character and a background. Accordingly, in step S702,for example, if a difference in density between the white character andthe background exceeds a difference in density set as a contrasttolerance, the density of the background is reduced so as to be equal tothe difference in density set as a contrast tolerance. Changing thedensity is preferably performed so that hue is not changed in the caseof a color image. Note that the chart image, the number of samples ofcontrast levels, the method of outputting the chart, and the like, arenot limited to these. A method in which, instead of a chart beingactually output, an image such as the adjustment chart 800 is displayedon the operation unit 150 and a user performs a selection, or anothermethod may also be used.

As described above, by performing a plurality of types of toner savingprocessing on a white character, and determining and applying theprocessing that is highly effective, it is possible to obtain an effectof suppressing the amount of color material consumption moresignificantly.

Furthermore, the image processing apparatus according to the foregoingembodiments may also be an electrophotographic device, an inkjetprinter, a thermal printer, or the like, and the spirit of the presentinvention is not limited to the types of printers. Furthermore, a colormaterial for use in printing may also be a recording material, such as atoner or an ink, and the spirit of the present invention is not limitedto the types of recording materials. However, the present invention isparticularly effective for a printing method such as anelectrophotographic method or an ink-jet method, in which a recordingmaterial is provided separately, and that consumes the amount of therecording material that corresponds to the recording amount.Furthermore, the present invention is also advantageous as imageprocessing at the time of not only printing, but also, datatransmission.

Other Embodiments

Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by acomputer of a system or an apparatus that reads out and executescomputer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recordedon a storage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/orthat includes one or more circuits (e.g., an application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or moreof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by thecomputer of the system or an apparatus by, for example, reading out andexecuting the computer executable instructions from the storage medium,to perform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). Thecomputer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., a central processingunit (CPU), a micro processing unit (MPU)), and the like, and mayinclude a network of separate computers or separate processors to readout and to execute the computer executable instructions. The computerexecutable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example,from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include,for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), aread only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, anoptical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc(DVD), or a Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flash memory device, a memory card,and the like.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image processing apparatus comprising: (A) aninterface that receives print data; (B) an operation device thatreceives a user instruction; (C) a memory that stores instructions; and(D) one or more processors that execute the instructions and cause theimage processing apparatus to function as: (a) a setting unit that setsa toner save mode corresponding to a white character based on the userinstruction via the operation device; (b) a receiving unit that receivesthe print data, including at least one character, via the interface, theat least one character being constituted of at least one line; and (c) aprocessing unit that performs processing for increasing a width of theat least one line constituting the white character included in imagedata generated from the print data in a case when the setting unit setsthe toner save mode for the white character, and does not performprocessing for increasing a width of the at least one line constitutingthe white character included in the image data in a case when thesetting unit does not set the toner save mode for the white character;and (E) a printing unit that forms an image based on the image data andprints the formed image.
 2. The image processing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the processing unit further performs processing forincreasing a width of a white line included in the image data.
 3. Theimage processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processingunit further performs processing for reducing one of (i) a width of aline constituting a character having a density that is equal to orgreater than a predetermined density, and (ii) a width of a line havinga density that is equal to or greater than a predetermined density, thecharacter and the line being included in the image data.
 4. The imageprocessing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processing unitadjusts a degree of the width reduction performed by the processing unitfor reducing the width of the line, based on a thin-line reproducibilityof an image that is printed by the printing unit.
 5. The imageprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the white characteris a character whose density is equal to or less than a predetermineddensity.
 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising an outputting unit that outputs the image data processed bythe processing unit, wherein the printing unit forms the image based onthe image data that is output by the outputting unit.
 7. The imageprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing unitforms an image by one of (i) an electrophotographic method and (ii) anink-jet method.
 8. An image processing method comprising: an input stepof receiving print data via an interface; a receiving step of receivinga user instruction via an operation device; a setting step of setting atoner save mode corresponding to a white character based on the userinstruction via the operation device; a receiving step of receiving theprint data, including at least one character, via the interface, the atleast one character being constituted of at least one line; a processingstep of performing processing for increasing a width of the at least oneline constituting the white character included in image data generatedfrom the print data in a case when the setting step sets the toner savemode for the white character, and not performing processing forincreasing a width of the at least one line constituting the whitecharacter included in the image data in a case when the setting stepdoes not set the toner save mode for the white character; and a printingstep of forming an image based on the image data and printing the formedimage.
 9. The image processing method according to claim 8, wherein theprocessing step further performs processing for increasing a width of awhite line included in the image data.
 10. The image processing methodaccording to claim 8, wherein the processing step further performsprocessing for reducing one of (i) a width of a line constituting acharacter having a density that is equal to or greater than apredetermined density, and (ii) a width of a line having a density thatis equal to or greater than a predetermined density, the character andthe line being included in the image data.
 11. The image processingmethod according to claim 10, wherein the processing step adjusts adegree of the width reduction performed during the processing step forreducing the width of the line, based on a thin-line reproducibility ofan image that is printed during the printing step.
 12. The imageprocessing method according to claim 8, wherein the white character is acharacter whose density is equal to or less than a predetermineddensity.
 13. The image processing method according to claim 8, furthercomprising an outputting step that outputs the image data processedduring the processing step, wherein the printing step forms the imagebased on the image data that is output by the outputting step.
 14. Theimage processing method according to claim 8, wherein the printing stepforms an image by one of (i) an electrophotographic method and (ii) anink-jet method.
 15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing aprogram therein for causing a computer to execute a method, the methodcomprising: receiving print data via an interface; receiving a userinstruction via an operation device; setting a toner save modecorresponding to a white character based on the user instruction via theoperation device; receiving the print data, including at least onecharacter, via the interface, the at least one character beingconstituted of at least one line; performing processing for increasing awidth of the at least one line constituting the white character includedin image data generated from the print data in a case when the settingstep sets the toner save mode for the white character, and notperforming processing for increasing a width of the at least one lineconstituting the white character included in the image data in a casewhen the setting step does not set the toner save mode for the whitecharacter; and forming an image based on the image data and printing theformed image.
 16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium accordingto claim 15, wherein performing the processing includes increasing awidth of a white line included in the image data.
 17. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium according to claim 15, wherein performing theprocessing includes reducing one of (i) a width of a line constituting acharacter having density that is equal to or greater than apredetermined density, and (ii) a width of a line having a density thatis equal to or greater than a predetermined density, the character andthe line being included in the image data.
 18. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium according to claim 17, wherein the processingadjusts a degree of the width reduction performed during the processingfor reducing the width of the line, based on a thin-line reproducibilityof an image that is printed.
 19. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium according to claim 15, wherein the white character is a characterwhose density is equal to or less than a predetermined density.
 20. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 15, furthercomprising outputting the image data that is processed, wherein theimage that is formed is based on the image data that is output.
 21. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 15, whereinthe image is formed by one of (i) an electrophotographic method and (ii)an ink-jet method.